Newcastle United have, on Thursday, been dealt something of a blow amid the club’s ongoing pursuit of Bayer Leverkusen star Moussa Diaby.
The coming summer window, of course, is expected to see the transfer team at St. James’ Park prioritise fresh blood in the attacking third.
Amid Callum Wilson’s long-standing injury woes, and the lack of production on the part of Miguel Almiron, the Magpies are understood to have set their sights on additions both out wide and through the middle.
And one such option sitting high up the wishlist of the Geordie outfit, as alluded to above, is understood to be Moussa Diaby.
The 22-year-old has long been regarded as one of the Bundesliga’s finest up-and-coming talents, with his head-turning haul of 17 goals and 14 assists across all competitions this past season having only seen interest in his services continue to mount.
Newcastle, in turn, had been tipped as ready to do whatever was required to beat out the competition, and seal a deal for the Bayer Leverkusen standout over the weeks ahead.
Newcastle want to add Bayer Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby to their attack next season and have made enquiries over a deal for the France international | @mcgrathmike #nufc https://t.co/SGwMCfmqDn
— Telegraph Football (@TeleFootball) May 27, 2022
Speaking to the media on Thursday, it therefore came as little surprise when the subject of Diaby’s future was put to Bayer sporting director Simon Rolfes.
If the ensuing comments on the part of the German are anything to go by, however, then Newcastle look set to be forced to look elsewhere for additional firepower in the attacking third ahead of next season.
This comes with Rolfes having assured that the Bundesliga outfit ‘want to keep Moussa Diaby as long as possible’:
Bayer Leverkusen director Simon Rolfes on Moussa Diaby: “We want to keep Moussa Diaby as long as possible. We have no offers”, tells @RyanTaylorSport. ? #transfers
“We aren’t looking for any proposal at the moment”, he added.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 9, 2022
Newcastle and Arsenal handed boost as transfer target ‘wants to leave’ this summer
Newcastle United ‘close in’ on second target despite late Manchester United interest
Newcastle betting odds, next game:
